This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
Published on November 6, 2019, workers at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground in Kisumu have been complaining about poor working conditions and high-handedness by the management.
Over 20 employees, who have been working as casuals for many years, are calling on Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o to address their grievances.
The workers, who spoke to Weekly Citizen on condition of anonymity, said they have been working without protective gear for years, putting their health at risk.
They alleged that the manager, Tom Nyinya, has been insensitive to their plight and welfare, despite being informed of the issues.
'We only have three slashing tools against the huge area we are supposed to cover,' the workers lamented.
The workers also narrated how they work without gloves and masks, exposing them to health risks.
Additionally, they claimed that a security firm that used to man the grounds withdrew its services due to non-payment of its dues, leading to a rise in incidents of robberies.
Investigations revealed that the toilets at the grounds are in a pathetic state, despite millions of shillings being pumped into their renovation during a Unesco fete last year.
The funds collected from the toilets, over Sh5,000 daily, are taken to the accounts section headed by John Arum, a former worker at the revenue department at the defunct Kisumu municipal council.
Arum was allegedly planted in the lucrative office by a former deputy treasurer at the council, Kephas Kacera, for ulterior reasons.
The workers also accused the manager of lacking the knowledge to run the sports grounds, citing a procurement query on his face.
Tom Nyinya was among hundreds of workers retrenched when Kenya Breweries Limited closed its Kisumu branch.
He has been blamed for the decay of the grounds, which was once voted the cleanest park in East Africa during the tenure of Joshua Nyamori.
The grounds were renovated by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) but withdrew its sponsorship after the council failed to meet certain obligations.
It was later taken over by the county, leading to its decay that still persists.
Meanwhile, a large number of street urchins have invaded the grounds, harassing members of the public and selling their wares.
